HOW SHE FELT 



RSI 



IN PER 

m nn RS 



m 



AND DTHER PQEMB 



MATT. W. ALDERSON. 



Let all thy actions have a motive true ; 
Inwardly feel and love whate'er you do : 
Naught but wrong acts e'er cause the blush of shame, 
And, right yourself, then scorn another's blame. 






, MAY 

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHO* 1 



BUTTE, MONTANA: 



2 mi^ 



1887. 






, 



1 



Copyright, 1887. 
By Matt. W. Alderson. 



BUTTE, MONTANA: 

PRESS OP THE MINER PUBLISHING CO. 

SECOND THOUSAND. 



HOW SHE FELT IN HER FIRST CORSET. 

T T occurred at Belgrade, where the genial Tom 
-*- Quaw, 

Gave a party, the first that the town ever saw; 
The youth and the beauty, the tillers of soil, 
Attended that night, seeking surcease from toil. 

There were farmers whose hair had a tinge of the 

gray; 
There were maidens than whom none were ever 

more gay; 
There were youths who could ride anything that 

wears hair, 
And matrons whose faces showed lines of dull care. 

Of the ladies who on this occasion took part, 
Some were dressed in the nobbiest style of the art; 
And the others, unmindful of fashion's decrees, 
Were attired to have much more comfort and ease. 



HOW SHE FELT IN HER FIRST CORSET. 

There was one blushing damsel, just budding 

sixteen, 
Whose waist by a corset ne'er encircled had been, 
But whose mother insisted that on such a night 
One should find a place there, and the lacing be 

tight. 

So the girl was rigged out as the mother desired, 
But of dancing 'twas noticed the damsel soon 

tired, 
"What's the matter?" was asked by some one at 

her side. 
"I feel just like bucking," the maiden replied. 



A LOVER'S VALENTINE. 

SWEETHEART of mine, 
A valentine, 
In duty bound, I send thee, 
And wish that joy, 
Free from alloy, 
May evermore attend thee. 

Near, or apart, 

Still may thy heart 
To mine in friendship nestle; 

For strong and free, 

In love for thee, 
'Gainst countless foes I'd wrestle. 

Since I am thine, 

Pray -do be mine, 
My heart prompts me to ask thee; 

Thy charming face, 

And matchless grace, 
I own have quite possessed me. 



TO THOSE WHO HOLD THE GUIDING REINS. 

T HAVE observed a steed, proud-spirited, 
-^ Lashed by a cruel driver till the sweat 
Stood out in beaded drops upon his side; 
And, oftimes, tears have welled up in my eyes 
As in my mind I've pictured human hearts 
Lashed thus by cruel words and goaded on. 
Then when, at other times, the same proud steed 
Has passed along the street with arched neck, 
With every motion breathing force and vim, 
I've noticed kindness held the guiding reins 
And kept in check the zealous prancer's power. 
My mind has pictured then, with kindlier glow, 
A heart ambitious, far too keen to go, 
Kept by sweet loving words in proper bounds; 
And deepest gratitude, at such a time, 
Wells up for those who hold the guiding reins. 



HIS FACE IS HIS FORTUNE. 

ci TT IS face is his fortune;'* 
-*• -*■ Yes, seldom we see 
One for "tick" importune, 
As boldly as he. 

Like one who has riches 

Acquired by gift, 
He laughs at the stitches 

Of gainer by thrift, 

For face is his treasure, 
And why keep in bank? 

One cannot find pleasure 
With pocket-book lank. 

So credit he uses 

Where'er it will pass, 
And always abuses 

The laboring class. 



His PACE is his FORTUNE 

But "Cheek* 1 is like iron 
That's coated with tin, 

It has B nice face on. 

But one rather thin. 



TRUE LOVE. 

And little dreaming that its folds 
No fragrance did enclose: 

Hut so the alter years have shown, 
And blighted hearts arc found 
Where once affection reigned supreme, 

And spread its joys around. 

He loved her, but he never thought 
That love should he expressed, 

And Slights that Caused her keenest pain, 
He never once redressed; 

To me he often wished he'd been 

To her a better man; 
But urged to teJI his wife as much, 

He would not brook the plan. 

Oh, ye! on whom some heart depends, 

For all its store of bliss, 
Withhold not from that tender soul 

The loving word and kiss; 
But, give expression to your love, 

And make its bliss complete, 
By giving those within your home 

Unfettered love to greet. 



WE'VE CROWN APART IN ALL THESE YEARS. 

T A TE were firm friends in years gone by, 

V V Were classmates at the school, 
And kept each other company, 
Against the master's rule. 

For he was righteous and he taught: 
"No boys with girls shall play!" 

I wonder if he really thought 
They'd lead us all astray. 

"No messages shall pass between 

The scholars in this school! 
And, woe to him who first is seen 

To violate this rule!" 

By fear and awe were all oppressed 

And knew not what to do: 
But I, more bold than all the rest, 

Sent Kate my billets-doux. 



22 ' 



WE'VE GROWN APART IN ALL THESE YEARS. 

She answered them, and sweeter notes 

A lover never read; 
I've often wondered since that time 

They never turned my head. 

And when our daily tasks were o'er, 

Away from school we ran 
To meet within some leafy dell 

And both our futures plan. 

But now she meets me with reserve, 

No welcome, as of yore; 
No parting with a warm embrace, 

No kisses at the door. 

Another fellow charms her now; 

She's children pert and tripper 
And, many a time, upon her knee, 

She spanks them with her slipper, 



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POLITICAL ECONOMY. 

CHAPTER I— PRODUCTION. 

A youth, not handsome from an outward view, 

Whose features stern belied the mellowness 

That dwelt behind his earnest, steadfast look, 

Delved in his heart upon a summer day 

And found therein a narrow vein of love. 

The prospect pleased, and on development 

He found the mine was rich. For years he worked 

And piled in heaps the ore upon the dump. 

Deep 'neath the mountain ridges of his heart 

He branched out levels on the silvered streak, 

And found almost exhaustless hidden wealth. 

He sought association, and he found 

A friend who brought the skill to treat the ore. 

He wasted not the wealth by labor won, 

But, when refined, he stored the bricks away, 

24 



POLITICAL ECONOMY. 

Until within himself there was no space, 
And he was but a treasure house of love. 



CHAPTER II— EXCHANGE. 

The youth is lost. Behold, on manhood's verge, 

Our hero now. A market for his ware 

He seeks at home in vain. There smallest coins 

Supply the daily needs, and he must seek 

A distant shore, and one to coin his wealth. 

Undauntedly, despite unbroken paths, 

Unheeding storms and floods, he presses on 

To reach her side. An aged man stands guard, 

And yet he marches up the walks unchecked. 

His very boldness awes. A maiden there 

Is pleased with what he brings, and from her heart 

She gladly pays him golden coin therefor. 

She mints her boughten wealth, and later on 

They meet again. They ride the garden gate. 

Proximity, free trade promote exchange. 

She pays him back his own, each coin a kiss. 

The market steady rules, demand is strong,. 



25 



POLITICAL ECONOMY, 



Supply exhaustless. 'Tis called a fair exchange, 
And yet they both are richer made thereby. 



CHAPTER III— CONSUMPTION. 

Beneath her father's roof we see them next, 
And at the altar plight their faith— each heart 
By love firm bound, and yet by love left free. 
The years roll by and for the staff of life 
They live on love. They need conveniences. 
And love provides them all. Their luxuries 
Are daily feasts of love. There are some days 
When, overcome by care and household toils, 
Her heart is faint, but when she seeks his side 
She meets love's sweet caress and cheering kiss, 
And wonders that her spirits ever drooped. 
He never leaves her side but with a kiss, 
And, when they meet again, he clasps her form 
And plants love's token on her waiting lips. 
Would'st thou the secret know, of happy homes? 
'Tis gallantries like these that make them so. 
At times when prostrate on her bed she lays, 



POLITICAL ECONOMY. 

She makes sad inroads on his stock of wealth; 

Still, freely, lavishly he gives it her, 

And wooes her back to health again, thro' love. 

About the hearth a troop of children comes, 

And as he soothes and cheers their restless hearts, 

His garnered wealth, like snow, fast melts away. 

The mine can be depended on no more; 

Old age creeps on apace, and in his heart 

He feels the strained timbers giving 'way. 

He feeds now on the wealth in other days 

Invested where 'twould bring a safe return. 

With tottering steps yet proud he walks the streets, 

And still has smiles for everyone he meets. 

CHAPTER IV— DISTRIBUTION. 

Upon his bed with withered, palsied frame, 
Behold an aged man! A life well spent 
Is drawing to a close. About him stand 
The loved ones of his home. They prop him up 
As with a halting voice, yet clear, he speaks: 
"My treasured store of love will soon be yours. 
Waste not the capital I leave.behind 

27 



POLITICAL ECONOMY. 

In shedding bitter tears above my grave; 
I shall not feel thy love, and if I should, 
'Twould make me sad to see you weeping there; 
As thou dost love me, seek and cheer the hearts 
That find life's road a sad and lonesome way; 
My dying wish, yes children, my command, 
Is that you love— yes, love — each oth— er here." 
He breathes no more. 

The last sad rites performed, 
The hearts bereaved return with saddened step 
And enters once again upon life's tasks. 
The father's dying wish rings in their ears; 
They check the flow of tears and rise above 
The grief that bends them low. Love flows again. 
And on the gates the youths and maidens fair 
Are gaily swinging back and forth once more, 
Fresh coinage from the mint is passing now, 
And, as we walk the streets, upon the air 
There rings a sound that proves the metal true. 



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